giovedì 6 febbraio 2014

Do as the Italians Do: Aperitivo in Florence

For
foreigners and travelers to Italy the idea of the
aperitivo is so fresh and sensible, that we begin to wonder why our own culture
never adopted the idea.If you haven’t
experienced an aperitivo hands on yet, you are sure to have been witness to
one, as they are hard to avoid.Essentially, an aperitivo is the time typically between 7pm and 9:30pm
in a bar where you sip on a cocktail or glass of wine.This cocktail is like your ticket to the
buffet spreads that the bar offers.Once
you have ordered, you are free to fill your plate with the various snacks and
fully prepared first courses.Whether
you want to make a light dinner of it or need to tie yourself over before a
late dinner, your options are endless.You will typically see plates of cheese and meets, pasta and rice
dishes, small sandwiches, crudité, salads and breads.If you are worried that you need to get there
right at opening, don’t be because they keep on refilling the bar with new
plates and dishes.

Something
that Italians really appreciate is taking pleasure in what they are doing and
truly enjoying it.This is nonetheless
true for drinking.They like to take
their time over a long chat or discussion over good company and something to
nibble on.This concept is unfamiliar in
other cultures but once unlocked, you wonder how you ever lived without
it.Aperitivi are great for students on
a budget because they are very wallet friendly going for about 8 euros.This being said, they are not just for those
on a budget.You can check out higher
end places such as B.Gallo in Piazza
del Duomo or SE.STO on top of the
hotel Westin in Piazza Ognissanti.If
you want to mingle with the locals, head to either Santo Spirito or San Niccolò
where you will find the piazzas chalk full of choices.In Santo Spirito, check out Pop Café for a vegetarian aperitivo or Volume, which also makes sweet and
savory crepes late into the night.In
San Niccolò, stop by Zoe or head
further down towards the tower for many other options.A little further off the beaten path in the
Campo di Marte area is Dogali,
where you can find various breads and pastas, all made by them fresh
everyday.It truly is worth the extra
trek.

The idea of an aperitivo is also something you can easily put together at home for your friends. It is a great way to invite many different people and get to know others. Try buying a couple of bottles of wine and then offering a typical Italian cocktail, the spritz, which is simply Aperol and prosecco. Plan ahead by making a few things that can be served at room temperature such as a frittata, a pasta dish and a plate of different meats and cheese accompanied by sliced bread and chips. Once guests start arriving, everything is already ready and all you have to do is enjoy your cocktail Italian style: with friends and over a good bite to eat.

IE Campus & Student Activities

ISTITUTO EUROPEO offers a wide range of Italian language, music, art, and history courses as well as a great internship program. The school is located in the heart of Florence and offers weekly, monthly, semester, and yearly programs.

Informazioni personali

ISTITUTO EUROPEO is located in the heart of Florence in the completely renovated historical Palazzo Borgia Guicciardini Corsi Salviati. Istituto Europeo has specialized for several years in teaching the Italian language, art, music and culture to students from all over the world.
ISTITUTO EUROPEO is Officially recognized by the Region of Tuscany, delegated by the Italian Ministry of Education and is accredited as a Centre for Professional Training (accreditation number: FI0738 - decree n.2250).
ISTITUTO EUROPEO is accredited by CSN organization for financial aid Swedish students. IE is also certified to meet UNI ENI ISO 9001:2008 cert. No QA110238, the internationally recognized standard of quality management systems.
Istituto Europeo is not only a language school, but also an active cultural center that offers to its students the opportunity to learn many diverse aspects - ancient and modern - of Italian life, including Italian history, art, literature, music, as well as food, wine, and places of interest.